Beyond Pho – Boating to the Full Moon in Hoi An

Beyond Pho – Boating to the Full Moon in Hoi An

In the evening, we came back to Hoi An and found it bustling with festivities.  The night market has opened.  Music filled the air, food stalls lined the streets, and the colorful lanterns decorated the sky with the full moon above us. We had a 

Beyond Pho – Biking Between Heaven and Earth

Beyond Pho – Biking Between Heaven and Earth

We joined a biking tour on this sunny day.   The Nu Eatery Lunch was at the Nu Eatery.  The restaurant was known for its fusion touch on traditional Vietnamese cuisine.  We had to try our luck as we did not make a reservation, and 

Beyond Pho – Dancing to the Full Moon in Hoi An

Beyond Pho – Dancing to the Full Moon in Hoi An

The people of Hoi An celebrate the full moon every month.  Perhaps that was how they kept the tourists engaged.  But on this traditional once-a-year Mid-Autumn Festival, the celebratory activities were much more elaborate. We intended to have a walk in Hoi An that evening 

Beyond Pho – Hoi An

Beyond Pho – Hoi An

Between the 2nd to the 10th centuries, Hoi An was a bustling seaport of the Champa Kingdom.  Both My Son and Hoi An within its bounds, the Quang Nam province once belonged to the Champa King.  A dispute arose between the Champa kingdom and Vietnam 

Two Days in Turin (2)

Two Days in Turin (2)

Sunday morning greeted us with a bit of a heavy rain.  We checked out at 10am, got into the car and drove around looking for breakfast.  We came upon a Lavazza Café that was opened on Sunday morning.  The family ordered one to two each 

Two Days in Turin (1)

Two Days in Turin (1)

The house was bustling in the morning as the children woke up to a new day. I woke up tired because I researched late into the night for restaurants to visit in Turin.  My cousin requested Michelin restaurants.  The family enjoys stately meals when they 

Beyond Pho – God Shiva at My Son

Beyond Pho – God Shiva at My Son

We rose early to visit the Duy Phu village at My Son Valley.  My Son, in Vietnamese, means “beautiful mountain.” In this part of Vietnam, the celebrated ancient culture is that of the Champa people.  Now considered an ethnic minority (one of the 55), the 

Beyond Pho – From Marble Mountains onto Hoi An

Beyond Pho – From Marble Mountains onto Hoi An

God might have been with me on Monday, but certainly not on Tuesday.  There was intermittent rain when we had breakfast.  We liked the crisp baguette yesterday, so this time we ditched the eggs and requested Vietnamese ham instead. Our driver kept us wait a 

Beyond Pho – Ba Na Hills and Danang Proper

Beyond Pho – Ba Na Hills and Danang Proper

We asked for a ride to Ba Na Hills.  When we arrived at Ba Na Hills 20 minutes later, only then did we realize that we joined a tour.  They tour guide advised us to stick with the tour group until it ended at 3:30.  

Beyond Pho – First Impressions of Danang

Beyond Pho – First Impressions of Danang

Danang was my third trip to Vietnam.  I had not written much during my first two trips, which were to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, respectively.  Therefore I will start with my third trip. To Danang and Hoi An it was. The street scenes